Apparatus and method of constructing display

ABSTRACT

First and second uprights for a display or organizing unit are disclosed. Each upright may have one or more keyholes. Each keyhole may be comprised of first and second openings having a larger and a smaller dimension or diameter, respectively. Each upright may include two vertical members. The first and second uprights may be connected together by a member or members. Each of the member or members may have one or more protrusions or studs for insertion into the keyholes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to improved methods and apparatusconcerning assembly of shelving, organizers and display units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Shelving, organizers, and display units are adapted to beassembled in the prior art using various techniques. These techniquesare inadequate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention in one or more embodiments provides adisplay unit comprised of two uprights which include keyholes. Variouscomponents of the display include studs or protrusions which can beeasily inserted and locked into the keyholes to connect the variouscomponents to the two uprights.

[0004] In one embodiment an apparatus is provided comprising first andsecond uprights. Each upright may have one or more keyholes. Eachkeyhole may be comprised of first and second openings wherein the firstopening has a larger dimension or diameter than the second opening. Eachupright may include two vertical members. The first and second uprightsmay be connected together by a member or members. Each of the member ormembers may have one or more protrusions or studs each of which has afirst portion and a second portion. The first portion of each member mayhave a dimension which is greater than the second portion of eachmember. The first portion of each member can be inserted into the largeropening of the keyhole. The second portion can thereafter be insertedinto the smaller opening of the keyhole to lock an end of each memberinto the keyhole. In this manner, members may be used to connect thefirst and second uprights or first and second vertical members of aparticular upright.

[0005] The present invention in one or more embodiments also includes amethod comprising the steps of inserting first and second portions of afirst protrusion of a first member into a first opening of a firstkeyhole of a first upright, and thereafter inserting the second portioninto a second opening of the first keyhole. The first portion typicallyhas a greater dimension than the second portion. The first openingtypically has a greater dimension than the second opening. The firstportion of the first protrusion cannot pass through the second openingof the first keyhole.

[0006] The method may include inserting third and fourth portions of asecond protrusion of the first member into a third opening of a secondkeyhole of a second upright, and thereafter inserting the fourth portioninto a fourth opening of the second keyhole. The third portion typicallyhas a greater dimension than the fourth portion. The third openingtypically has a greater dimension than the fourth opening. The thirdportion of the second protrusion cannot pass through the fourth openingof the second keyhole.

[0007] The display unit may be comprised of metal and may have fullsides that wrap around two corners of shelves. (identify wrap aroundpart in drawings ??)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of some of the components of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3A shows a front view of a door frame and pair of doors foruse in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3B shows a front view of the door frame and pair of doors ofFIG. 3B with the additional of a pair of door handles;

[0012]FIGS. 4A and 4B show perspective views of part of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 wherein a pair of support members are shown disconnected fromleft and right uprights, respectively;

[0013]FIGS. 5A and 5B show perspective views of the same parts of theapparatus previously shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, wherein thepair of support members have been inserted into large diameter portionsof keyholes in the left and right uprights, respectively;

[0014]FIGS. 6A and 6B show a perspective view of the same parts of theapparatus previously shown in FIGS. 4A-B and 5A-5B wherein the pair ofsupport members have been pushed down into smaller diameter portions inkeyholes in the left and right uprights;

[0015]FIG. 7 shows a side view of a bracket which may include a name ofa company or product printed on a front plate for display; and

[0016]FIG. 8 shows a top view of a right upright used for the apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 10 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes abracket or member 12, a bracket or member 14, shelves 16, 18, 20, 22,and 24, door frames 26 and 126, doors 28, 30, 128, and 130, and left andright uprights 40 and 50. The bracket or member 12 may include a displaydesignation, product name, company name or other designation 13 whichmay be printed on the front surface 15, such as the example of “ACME”for “ACME” products incorporated.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of some of the components of theapparatus 10 of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIGS. 4A and 4B show a portion of left and right uprights 40 and50, respectively. The left upright 40 includes L shaped members 42 and44. L-shaped member 42 is further comprised of members 42 a and 42 b andL-shaped member 44 is further comprised of members 44 a and 44 b. Member42 a has a plurality of keyholes, whose locations are shown by dashedlines in FIG. 4A, such as keyhole 43 d. Each keyhole, such as keyhole 43d is comprised of two diameters or dimensions: a large diameter ordimension D3 at the top of the keyhole 43 d and a small diameter ordimension D4 near the bottom of the keyhole 43 d. All of the otherkeyholes may have the same dimensions as keyhole 43 d. The keyholes,such as 43 d are designed so that a support member or rod, such assupport member or rod 60 in FIG. 4A can be inserted into the largediameter of the keyhole, such as 43 d, as shown in FIG. 5A, and thenpushed downwards into the smaller diameter of the keyhole, as shown inFIG. 6A, to lock the support member or rod 60 in place. I.e. an end 60 aof the rod 60 has a diameter larger than the small diameter D3 of thekeyhole 43 d, so that end 60 a once inside member 42 a and pusheddownwards cannot come out of member 42 a unless the end 60 a is liftedup and pulled out through large diameter D3 of the keyhole 43 d.Similarly the rod 60 has an end 60 b, shown in FIG. 4A, which can beinserted into the large diameter opening of the keyhole 45 d as shown byFIG. 5A, then pushed down, as shown in FIG. 6A to lock the end 60 b tothe member 44 via keyhole 60 b.

[0020] Similarly the keyholes, such as 55 d on the member 54 a aredesigned so that one end of a support member or rod, such as end 62 a ofthe support member or rod 62 in FIG. 4B can be inserted into the largediameter portion of the keyhole, such as 55 d, as shown in FIG. 5B andthen pushed downwards into the smaller diameter portion of the keyhole,as shown in FIG. 6B, to lock end 62 a of the support member or rod 62 inplace. I.e. the end 62 a of the rod 62 has a diameter larger than thesmall diameter D3 of the keyhole 55 d, so that end 62 a once inside themember 54 a and pushed downwards cannot come out of member 54 a unlessthe end 62 a is lifted up and pulled out through large diameter D3 ofthe keyhole 55 d. Similarly the rod 62 has an end 62 b, shown in FIG.4B, which can be inserted into the large diameter opening of the keyhole53 d as shown by FIG. 5B, then pushed down, as shown in FIG. 6B to lockthe end 60 b to the member 44 via keyhole 60 b.

[0021] Member 44 a of the L-shaped member 44 of left upright 40, alsohas a plurality of keyholes which typically have the same dimensions askeyhole 43 d. Each keyhole on member 42 a has a corresponding keyhole onthe member 44 a. For example, keyhole 43 d on the member 42 a has acorresponding keyhole 45 d on the member 44 a. The keyholes 43 d and 45d are also at the same height H or distance from the bottom ends oftheir members 42 a and 44 a, respectively. In this manner a supportmember or rod such as rod 60 when inserted into keyholes 43 d and 45 dwill be perpendicular to both the members 42 a and 44 a. Similarly, eachof the keyholes along the member 42 a has a corresponding keyhole alongthe member 44 a so that the rod 60 can be inserted at a plurality oflocations and in a manner so that rod 60 is perpendicular to bothmembers 42 a and 44 a.

[0022] The right upright 50 is a mirror image of the left upright 40.The right upright 50 includes L-shaped members 52 and 54. The L-shapedmember 52 includes members 52 a and 52 b and the L-shaped member 54includes members 54 a and 54 b. Member 52 a has a plurality of keyholessimilar to member 42 a and member 54 a has a plurality of keyholessimilar to member 44 a. Member 44 b is perpendicular to member 44 a.Member 44 b applies an alternate force to the apparatus 10 allowing fora marked increase to the apparatus 10 strength. The member 44 bminimizesthe sway of apparatus 10.

[0023] The left upright 40 includes a plate 46 and a plate 48 whichconnects the members 42 and 44. The right upright 50 includes plates 56and 58 which connect the members 52 and 54.

[0024] The door frames 26 and 126 may be the same. The door frame 26 maybe comprised of opening 27 a, side 27 b, bottom 27 c, side 27 d, and top27 e. The door frame 26 may include protrusions or studs 26 a, 26 b, 26c, and 26 d. The door frame 26 can be attached to the members 42 a and52 a of the left and right uprights 40 and 50, respectively. Protrusions26 a and 26 b can be inserted into for example, keyholes 43 e and 43 f,respectively, shown in FIG. 4A. Protrusions 26 c and 26 d can beinserted into the keyholes 55 e and 55 f for member 52. Each of theprotrusions 26 a-26 d may include a first outer knob portion which issmall enough to fit in the large diameter portion of a keyhole, such as43 e, but too large to fit through the small diameter portion of akeyhole, such as 43 e. Each of the protrusions 26 a-26 d, may include aninner portion which is small enough to fit through the small diameterportion of a keyhole, such as 43 e. In operation, the outer knob portionis inserted through the large diameter portion of a keyhole and then thedoor frame, such as door frame 26, is pushed downwards towards thebottom of the uprights 40 and 50 to lock the door frame 26 in place.

[0025] The doors 28 and 30 may be attached to the door frame 26 how ??The doors 128 and 130 may be attached in a similar manner to the doorframe 128. The door frame 128 may be attached to the members 44 a and 54a in the same manner that the door frame 28 is connected to the members42 a and 52 a.

[0026] The member 12 includes protrusions or studs 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and12 d. The member 14 may be the same as the member 12 and may includeprotrusions or studs 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d. FIG. 7 shows a sideview of the member or bracket 12. The member or bracket 12 may include aname of a company or product printed on a front plate 15. The member orbracket 12 may include a top portion 12 e and a bottom portion 12 f. Theprotrusions or studs 12 a-12 d may be similar or the same as protrusionsor studs 26 a-d on the door frame 26. The protrusions or studs 12 a-12d, each may have an outer knob portion having a diameter of D1 and aninner portion having a diameter of D2. The outer knob portions of theprotrusions 12 a and 12 c, fit into the large diameter portions of keyholes on the member 42 a while the outer knob portions of theprotrusions 12 b and 12 d fit into the large diameter portion of keyholeon the member 52 a. The member 12 can then be pushed downwards to lockthe member 12 in place. The inner portion of the protrusions 12 a-12 dwill then be in the small diameter portion of the keyholes and the outerknob portions of the protrusions 12 a-12 d will be located inside theappropriate member of the members 42 a and 52 a. The member 14 may besimilar to the member 12 and may be attached in a similar manner to themembers 44 a and 54 a.

[0027] The shelves 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 may each be identical to theother, and therefore only one shelf 18 will be described. The shelf 18includes sides 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, and 18 d and portion 18e. Portion 18emay be a flat plate. The shelf 18 also includes slots 19 a, 19 b, 19 c,and 19 d. After a rod, such as member 60 is inserted into keyholes ofmember 42 a and member 44 a, the shelf 18 can be placed over the member60 in a manner so that the flat portion 18 e is on top of the member 60and the member 60 lies within the slots 19 a and 19 b. In addition,after the rod 62 is inserted into keyholes of member 52 a and 54 a, theshelf 18 can be placed over the member 62 in a manner so that the flatportion 18 e is on top of the member 60 and the member 60 lies withinthe slots 19 c and 19 d. The shelf is situated so that the shelf flatportion 18 e is perpendicular to the uprights 40 and 50 and so that themember 60 is in slots 19 a and 19 b while the member 62 issimultaneously in slots 19 c and 19 d.

[0028]FIG. 3A shows a front view of the door frame 26 and the doors 28and 30 for use in the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3A shows raisedsections 28 b and 30 b where door handles will be located. FIG. 3A alsoshows holes 28 c and 28 d through which screws can be inserted toconnect door handle 28 a to the door frame 26 and holes 30 c and 30 dthrough which screws can be inserted to connect door handle 30 a to thedoor frame 26. FIG. 3B shows a front view of the door frame 26 and thepair of doors 28 and 30 of FIG. 3B with the addition of door handles 28a and 30 a.

[0029]FIG. 8 shows a top view of a right upright 50 used for theapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows members 54 a and 54 b andmembers 52 a and 52 b as well as plate 58.

[0030] Although the invention has been described by reference toparticular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes andmodifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Itis therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first upright having a firstkeyhole comprised of a first opening of a first dimension and a secondopening of a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is greaterthan the second dimension; a first member having a first protrusion, thefirst protrusion having a first portion having a third dimension and asecond portion having a fourth dimension, wherein the third dimension isgreater than the fourth dimension; and wherein the first portion and thesecond portion of the first protrusion fit into the first opening of thefirst keyhole; and wherein the first portion of the first protrusioncannot pass through the second opening of the first keyhole.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second upright having a secondkeyhole comprised of a third opening of a third dimension and a fourthopening of a fourth dimension, wherein the third dimension is greaterthan the fourth dimension; wherein the first member has a secondprotrusion, the second protrusion having a third portion having a fifthdimension and a fourth portion having a sixth dimension, wherein thefifth dimension is greater than the sixth dimension; and wherein thethird portion and the fourth portion of the second protrusion fit intothe third opening of the second keyhole; and wherein the third portionof the second protrusion cannot pass through the fourth opening of thesecond keyhole.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the firstprotrusion of the first member is inserted into the first opening of thefirst keyhole and the second portion of the first protrusion isthereafter inserted into the second opening of the first keyhole, thefirst member is connected at a first end to the first upright.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein when the first protrusion of the firstmember is inserted into the first opening of the first keyhole and thesecond portion of the first protrusion is thereafter inserted into thesecond opening of first keyhole, the first member is connected at afirst end to the first upright; and wherein when the second protrusionof the first member is inserted into the third opening of the secondkeyhole of the second upright and the fourth portion of the secondprotrusion is thereafter inserted into the fourth opening of the secondkeyhole of the second upright, the first member is connected at a secondend to the second upright.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firstmember is a door frame.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firstmember has a designation on it.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein thedesignation indicates the name of a company.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the first member is a support member for a shelf and the firstmember includes a second protrusion, the second protrusion having athird portion having a fifth dimension and a fourth portion having asixth dimension, wherein the fifth dimension is greater than the sixthdimension; the first upright is comprised of a first vertical member anda second vertical member; the first keyhole is located in the firstvertical member and the second vertical member includes a second keyholehaving a third and a fourth opening; wherein the first portion and thesecond portion of the first protrusion fit into the first opening of thefirst keyhole; and wherein the first portion of the first protrusioncannot pass through the second opening of the first keyhole; wherein thethird portion and the fourth portion of the second protrusion fit intothe third opening of the second keyhole; and and wherein the thirdportion of the second protrusion cannot pass through the fourth openingof the second keyhole.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising asecond upright comprised of a third vertical member and a fourthvertical member; the third vertical member of the second upright havinga third keyhole comprised of a fifth opening of a seventh dimension anda sixth opening of an eight dimension, wherein the eighth dimension isgreater than the seventh dimension; the fourth vertical member of thesecond upright having a fourth keyhole comprised of a seventh opening ofa ninth dimension and a sixth opening of an tenth dimension, wherein thetenth dimension is greater than the ninth dimension; a second memberwhich is a support member for a shelf, the second member having a thirdprotrusion, the third protrusion having a fifth portion having aneleventh dimension and a sixth portion having a twelfth dimension,wherein the eleventh dimension is greater than the twelfth dimension;the second member also having a having a fourth protrusion, the fourthprotrusion having a seventh portion having a thirteenth dimension and atwelfth portion having a fourteenth dimension, wherein the thirteenthdimension is greater than the fourteenth dimension; wherein the thirdprotrusion fits into the fifth and sixth openings of the third keyhole,and wherein the fifth portion of the third protrusion cannot passthrough the sixth opening; and wherein the fourth protrusion fits intothe seventh and eighth openings of the fourth keyhole, and wherein theseventh portion of the fourth protrusion cannot pass through the eighthopening.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when the first protrusionof the first member is inserted into the first opening of the firstkeyhole and the second portion of the first protrusion is thereafterinserted into the second opening of first keyhole, the first member isconnected at a first end to the first vertical member of the firstupright; wherein when the second protrusion of the first member isinserted into the third opening of the second keyhole of the firstupright and the fourth portion of the second protrusion is thereafterinserted into the fourth opening of the second keyhole of the secondupright, the first member is connected at a second end to the secondvertical member of the first upright; when the third protrusion of thesecond member is inserted into the fifth opening of the third keyholeand the sixth portion of the third protrusion is thereafter insertedinto the sixth opening of third keyhole, the second member is connectedat a third end to the third vertical member of the second upright; andwherein when the fourth protrusion of the second member is inserted intothe sixth opening of the fourth keyhole of the second upright and theeighth portion of the fourth protrusion is thereafter inserted into theeighth opening of the fourth keyhole of the second upright, the secondmember is connected at a fourth end to the fourth vertical member of thesecond upright.
 11. A method comprising the steps of inserting first andsecond portions of a first protrusion of a first member into a firstopening of a first keyhole of a first upright; thereafter inserting thesecond portion into a second opening of the first keyhole; wherein thefirst portion has a greater dimension than the second portion; whereinthe first opening has a greater dimension than the second opening; andwherein the first portion of the first protrusion cannot pass throughthe second opening of the first keyhole.
 12. The method of claim 11wherein the first member is a door frame.
 13. The method of claim 11wherein the first member has a designation on it.
 14. The method ofclaim 13 wherein the designation indicates the name of a company. 15.The method of claim 11 further comprising inserting third and fourthportions of a second protrusion of the first member into a third openingof a second keyhole of a second upright; thereafter inserting the fourthportion into a fourth opening of the second keyhole; wherein the thirdportion has a greater dimension than the fourth portion; wherein thethird opening has a greater dimension than the fourth opening; andwherein the third portion of the second protrusion cannot pass throughthe fourth opening of the second keyhole.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein the first upright includes first and second vertical members;and the first keyhole is located on the first vertical member and thesecond keyhole is located on the second vertical member.